System and method for controlling irrigation

• US 20060157580A1
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Irvine Ranch Water District
• Original Assignee: Irvine Ranch Water District
• Inventors: Regli, Phillip
• Application Number:
  US11/376,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20060157580A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/67
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors

Abstract

A system and method for controlling irrigation for controlling irrigation including the transmission of an irrigation data signal including an irrigation instruction. The irrigation instruction may be calculated from various irrigation data including, but not limited to, landscape zone, sun radiation, root depth, soil condition, irrigation efficiency, water source, slope, curbside, evapotranspiration data, and any combination thereof. The system and method may further include the monitoring of irrigation flow and/or of a water meter.

Claims

1. A system for controlling irrigation comprising:

a data station;

a first transmitter in communication with the data station,

a first receiver in communication with the first transmitter; and

one or more controllers in communication with the receiver, wherein the first transmitter is adapted to transmit an irrigation data signal including an irrigation instruction to the first receiver;

a second transmitter in communication with the one or more controllers; and

a second receiver in communication with the data station, wherein the second transmitter is adapted to transmit a controller information message including data about the one or more controllers to the second receiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more controllers are in communication with at least one sprinkler.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more controllers instruct the at least one sprinkler to produce an amount of water, and wherein the controller information message includes data indicative of the amount of water instructed by the one or more controllers to be produced by the at least one sprinkler.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional receiver in communication with the first transmitter and in communication with at least one of the one or more controllers.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional transmitter in communication with the first receiver and in communication with the data station.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the irrigation instruction is calculated from irrigation data selected from the group consisting of landscape zone, sun radiation, root depth, soil condition, irrigation efficiency, water source, slope, curbside, evapotranspiration data, and any combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the irrigation instruction further includes a data combination identifier.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the water flow monitor comprises a flow sensor device coupled to a water meter.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the flow sensor device is a magnetic sensor to track movement of the water meter'"'"'s arm.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the flow sensor device is a flow motion sensor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller information message includes data indicating a condition selected from the group consisting of whether the controller is receiving incorrect instructions, whether a valve is stuck, and whether the first receiver is receiving information from the first transmitter.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission of the irrigation data signal is via the internet.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the data station transmits an irrigation data signal daily.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the data station transmits an irrigation data signal weekly.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller polls the data station to request a new irrigation data signal.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a preset irrigation schedule.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the preset irrigation schedule is automatically calculated by the data station.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one or more controllers is in communication with a water flow monitor.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the water flow monitor includes a flow center.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the water flow monitor transmits a measured signal indicative of the flow of water to one or more controllers, and the one or more controllers include the measured signal in the controller information message.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the irrigation instruction is calculated from irrigation data including landscape zone, sun radiation, root depth, soil condition, irrigation efficiency, water source, slope, curbside and evapotranspiration data.